…By Jack Sylva for TDPel Media.
Olivia Dunne, a millionaire gymnast who gained fame on social media, revealed that she turned to Paige Spiranac for help with managing her online image.
Dunne became a millionaire by the time she was 18 through her social media presence, and after restrictions on college athletes were lifted, she teamed up with talent agency WME Sports and landed a sponsorship deal with sportswear brand Vurori.
However, when critics began to target Dunne’s social media activities, she sought advice from Spiranac, a former professional golfer who has dealt with similar issues.
Dunne acknowledged that social media can be difficult and revealed that Spiranac advised her to keep certain aspects of her life private and to avoid posting things that could attract unwanted feedback.
Spiranac, who is highly engaged on social media and has more followers than golf legend Tiger Woods, is known for helping female athletes manage their online presence.
Dunne had to put Spiranac’s advice into practice after she was criticized by Hall of Fame coach Tara VanDerveer in a scathing New York Times article that described the content posted by Dunne and other female athletes as a “step back” for female athletes.
Despite the backlash, Dunne stands by her career choices and believes that it is important for girls to stand up for themselves.
She views the opportunity to appear in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition as a “dream come true”.
With over six million followers on TikTok and three million followers on Instagram, Dunne’s social media success has clearly paid off.
While some may criticize her career path, Dunne’s ability to turn her online influence into financial gain is a testament to the power of social media in the modern era.